If there's one thing Lewis Hamilton is hoping for in 2019, it's that Mercedes avoids using team orders to put him on the highest step of the podium this year.
While Hamilton clearly outpaced team mate Valtteri Bottas on his way to his fifth world championship, the Brit's task of winning was made easier on occasion, like in Sochi where the Finn was ordered to move over to facilitate Hamilton's victory.
The Mercedes star revealed however that winning in such a way left him with a bitter taste.
"I really hope that there’s never a scenario like this again," said Hamilton.
"By this point in the year the team were like, ‘we’re going to do everything to make sure, Lewis is now so far ahead you can’t catch him in the Championship so now we’ve got to start supporting him to make sure we tie up both Championships’.
"Neither Valtteri nor I sit in the room saying we want cars reversed, we just want to go out there and earn the position and race for it.
"Ultimately Valtteri was quicker that weekend and deserved to win," the British driver admitted.
"But it was really awkward. When I got the call that Valtteri was going to let me by, I can’t remember exactly, I think I said something like ‘just tell him to speed up’.
"I think in the race I was quicker, in qualifying he was quicker.
"I remember seeing him pull over and I continued by. It’s not ever the way I’ve ever wanted to win and I don’t think any driver wants to win that way.
However, when the stakes are high and when it all boils down to Mercedes' interest, both drivers must accept the decision.
"Coming across the line I’m very conflicted because if I think with my heart then I would have had it the other way," Hamilton added.
"But in life and in competition you’ve got to seize the moment, you’ve got to take it as it comes and you’ve got to seize it when you have the opportunity.
"If you put your feelings first you might not come out where you planned, if that makes sense.
"The team had taken the decision and even though I really wanted, the whole rest of that race, you just let him back by, I took the decision to stick with what the team had chosen to do.
"It was the right decision to make but ultimately in the end we didn’t need to have that day. But I think it was an important day in the sense of how we come together."
©Mercedes
Finally, Hamilton praised Bottas for his contribution and team spirit while also recognizing his speed;
"It was a hard day for Valtteri but I think he was fully respectful and a real, great team player," he said.
"He’s been an incredible team-mate. It’s not easy being my team-mate but it’s also not easy being his team-mate because he’s very, very fast, he’s very quick and he’s continuing to get faster and faster.
"I’ve been here six years, this was only his second year, and he really keeps me on my toes."
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